Excavating apparatus.



B. GURTISS &: W. A. MONROE.

EXGAVATING APPARATUS. APPLIUATION FILED APB-.14, 1909. RENEWED APR. 18,1910.

Patented Aug. 16, 1910.

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B. GURTISSKE W. A. MONROE. 1

BXOAYATING APPARATUS. APPLIOATION FILED APR. 11, 1909. nmmwnn APR. 18,1910.

967,735. 1 Patented Aug. 16,1910.

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BIRD ounrrss Ann WILLIAM A." MONROE, OFSPOKANTE, WASHINGTON.

EXoAvATINe APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 16, 1910.

-App1icatioi1 filed April 14, 1909, Serial No. 489,947. Renewed April18, 1910. Serial No. 556,240.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, BIRD- CURrIss and WILLIAM A. MONROE, citizens ofthe United States, residing at Spokane, in the county of Spokane andState ofVVashington, have invented certain new. and useful Improve:ments in Excavating Apparatus; and we do hereby declare the following tobe a full,

clear, and exact description of the inven tion, such as will enable.others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, and to theletters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part ofthis specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in excavatingapparatus and comprises various details of construction, combinationsand arrangements of parts which will be hereinafter fully described andthen specifically defined in the appended claims.

We illustrate our invention in the accompanying drawings, which with theletters of reference marked thereon form a part of this application andin Which:-

Figure 1 is a'perspective view of the excavating apparatus. Fig. 2 is aperspective view showing a modification of the power appa ratus foroperating the device, Fig. 3 is a detail view of means for connectingthe cable with a whiifie tree and Fig. 4:. is a vertical sectional view,parts being shown in elevation.

Reference now being had to the details of the drawings by letter, Adesignates a double inclined track having posts A with inclined notchesB formed therein. Beams 0 project from the under surface of saidinclined track and has apertures C therein in which the loopsD aremounted and which are adapted to engage one or another of the inclinedgrooves B in the posts A for the purpose of determining the inclinationof said tracks. Additional posts F having inclined notches F areprovided, which posts F are fixed to the beams G and beam H alsofastened to the under edge of the inclined tracks are provided withapertures H for the reception of the links or loops I which are adaptedto engage the slots F for the purpose of cooperatlng with the loops orlinks D to hold the tracks securely at given inclinations. Along theopposite marginal edges of the inclined tracks are the verticallydisposed flanges K, each of which has a recess K, one of the marginaledges of each of which K is curved as shown and is adapted to serve as astop to limit the movement of a scraper which will be presentlydescribed. Intermediate the two inclined tracks is a similar flange,designated by letter K and also provided with a recess K similar to therecess K above described. Said tracks have openings, designated byletter L, at their upper ends through which the dirt may be dumped.

N, N designate scrapers having handles N, and pins 0 project inalinement with each other from the opposite sides of the scraper, saidpins being adapted to ride upon the upper marginal edges of said flangesK and K as the scrapers are drawn up the inclined tracks.

Sheaves Q, are positioned at any suitable location Where the excavatingis to take place and have a cable R passing thereabout,

which cable has one end secured to one of the scrapers and its other endto the other scraper, and a second cable S is fastened at one end to thebail S of one scraper and its other end secured to the bail S of theother scraper. Sheaves J are mountedupon the upper edge of the inclinedtracks and over which the cable S is adapted to pass, the latter pullingunderneath the sheaves J. A chain J 2 is fastened at its ends to the endof the cable S,and T designates a double tree having a clevis T fastenedthereto, said clevis having projecting shank portions T to which a hookW is pivotally connected. Said hook is adapted to engage one of thelinks of the chain J and so arranged that, by swinging the hook upon itspivot, the double tree may be easily and quickly detached from the cableS. Pivotally connected to the inclined tracks are the tripping bars I,each having a shoulder I, and I designates a spring which is fastened atone end to the tr1 ping member and its other end to a hinge and servesto normally hold the tripping member at its farthest upper throw.

In Fig. 2 of the drawings, I have shown a slight modification of myinvention in which power from any suitable motor is adapted to beapplied to the apparatus for operating the scrapers and also an endlesscarrier. Positioned underneath the o enings in said inclined tracks isan on less conveyor V passing about the rollers V and V, the latter ofwhich has gear connection with a shaft X which is driven by gearconnection with a shaft X carrying the winding drums X said shaft Xbeing adapted to be driven by any suitable power.

In operation, it will be noted that, as one scraper is drawn up aninclined track, the other moves downward and, as the scraper rides upthe inclined track, the pins 0 projecting from the ends of the scraperriding upon the inclined edges of the flanges will cause the scraper torise slightly from the track and, when the pins enter the recesses K andK the front edge of the scraper coming in contact with the shoulder Iwill a cause the trip member to be depressed and a further forwardmovement of the scraper will cause the scraper to dump through theopening in the inclined track. The upright wall forming the upper edgeof the recesses K and K will arrest the further forward movement of thescraper after it has been dumped and, as the second scraper is drawn upthe inclined track, the empty one will return, being drawn back by thecable connected thereto.

By the construction shown, it will be observed that, when it is desiredto move the apparatus from one place to another, it may be skidded uponrollers passed underneath the framework of the apparatus.

What we claim to be new is 1. An excavating apparatus comprisinginclined tracks, vertically disposed flanges adjacent to said track andhaving recesses therein, scrapers and means for alternately drawing thesame up said inclined tracks, pins projecting from the ends of saidscrapers and adapted to ride upon said flanges, said flanges havingrecesses therein into which said pins move, a spring-pressed trippingmember positioned underneath the scraper and adapted to be engaged bythe forward edge thereof, and means for limiting the upper movement ofthe scraper, as set forth,

2. An excavating apparatus comprising inclined tracks, verticallydisposed flanges adjacent to said track and having recesses therein,scrapers and means for alternately drawing the same up said inclinedtracks,

pins projecting from the ends of said scrapers and adapted to ride uponsaid flanges, said flanges having recesses therein into which said pinsmove, a spring-pressed tripping member positioned underneath the scraperand adapted to be engaged by the forward edge thereof, the upper edge ofsaid recesses adapted to form stops for limiting the forward movement ofthe scraper, as set forth.

3. An excavating apparatus comprising inclined tracks, verticallydisposed flanges adjacent to said track and having recesses therein,scrapers and means for alternately drawing the same up said inclinedtracks, pins projecting from the ends of said scrapers and adapted toride upon said flanges, said flanges having recesses therein into whichsaid pins move, a s ring-pressed tripping member positione underneaththe scraper and adapted to be engaged by the forward edge thereof, theupper edge of said recesses adapt-ed to form stops for limiting theforward movement of the scraper, a cable connecting said scrapers,pulleys upon which said cable travels, and a cable connected to andadapted to raise alternately the scrapers upon the inclined tracks, asset forth.

4. An excavating apparatus comprising inclined tracks, an adjustableframework upon which the same are mounted, vertical longitudinal flangesupon said tracks and provided with recesses, said tracks having openingstherein, scrapers having pins projecting from the opposite sidesthereof, a cable fastened at its ends to said scrapers and passing overpulleys, a cable connected to each scraper for raismg the same, andmeans for automatically dumping the scraper, as set forth.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto aflixed our signatures in thepresence of two witnesses.

BIRD CURTISS. WILLIAM A. MONROE.

lVitnesses GEORGE WV. ANsLnY, ANDERSON BIRD RAILTIN.

